Method and apparatus for formulating fabric patterns

ABSTRACT

The application of computer technology to the needle punching of fabric wherein the input data of needle density, needle positions, strokes per minute, and fabric feed rate give rise to the plotting of a pattern of needle punches which can be reviewed for desirability. Coextensive webs of fabric of the same color or of different colors may then be fed into a needle punching machine under input data found desirable with needle penetration of the webs forcing the fibers into the desired pattern including an evenly punched pattern for single color fabric or for surface finishing and a special, designed pattern for multi-color fabric.

United States Patent Chung etal.

is] 3,656,177 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMULATING FABRIC PATTERNS [72] Inventors: Seng Fang Chung, Philadelphia; William L. Kuechler, Jenkintown; George J. Steinbronn, Philadelphia, all of Pa.

Proctor & Schwartz, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 18,1970

[21] Appl.N0.: 20,853

[73] Assignee:

Primary Examiner-Malcolm A. Morrison Assistant Examiner-Edward .1. Wise Att0mey-Robert S. Vermut [57] ABSTRACT The application of computer technology to the needle punching of fabric wherein the input data of needle density, needle positions, strokes per minute, and fabric feed rate give rise to the plotting of a pattern of needle punches which can be reviewed for desirability. Coextensive webs of fabric of the same color or of different colors may then be fed into a needle punching machine under input data found desirable with needle penetration of the webs forcing the fibers into the desired pattern including an evenly punched pattern for single color fabric or for surface finishing and a special, designed pattern for multi-color fabric.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures READ Y(I),Z(I)

COMPUTE PUNCHED COMPUTE NUMBER POSITIONS PER OF STROKES STROKE COMPUTE TOTAL PUNCHED POSITIONS, X,Y

REARRANGE X,Y ACCORDING TO THE MAGNITUDE OF Y COMPUTE DISTANCE MOVED PER STROKE READ S,F

REARRANGE ACCORDING TO THE MAGNITUDE 01'' X SAMEY DIFFERENT X PLOT X,Y

PATTERN 'NPUT 52 PRINT COINCIDENT POSITIONS PRINT X,Y IN 2 REPEATED PATTERN CYCLES COMPUTE LOCAL NEEDLE HOLE DENSITY C5-CB COMPUTE OVERALL NEEDLE HOLE neusn'v, E

PAIENTEDIPR I I I972 COMPUTE PUNCHED POSITIONS PER STROKE GENERAL PURPOSE DIGITAL COMPUTER FIG.I

COMPUTE NUMBER OF STROKES PRINT 1, Y(I),Z(I)

COMPUTE TOTAL PUNCHED POSITIONS,

REARRANGE X Y ACCORDING TO THE I YES COMPUTE DISTANCE MOVED PER STROKE READ S,F

SAME Y REARRANGE ACCORDING TO THE MAGNITUDE OF X COINCIDENT POSITIONS.

DIFFE T XY MAGNITUDE OF Y p Y PLOT XY PRINT X,Y IN 2 PATTERN TANPUT s2 REPEATED PATTERN COMPUTE LOCAL NEEDLE HOLE DENSITY C5-C8 PRINT FIG.2

CYCLES PRINT COINCIDENT POSITIONS NEEDLE HOLE DENSITY, E

COMPUTE OVERALL PRINT E INVENTOR.

Sen'g Fang Chung BY William L. Kuechler George J. Sfeinbron J uri ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMULATING FABRIC PATTERNS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the application of computer technology to fabric pattern forming and, more particularly, to fabric pattern forming by subsequent use of a needle loom.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art in the field of fabric pattern forming has been limited by the concept of conventional needle boards of 64, 77, 109 and 122 needle density. Preblending of fibers before needle punching, surface printing of the fabric after needle punching such as die cutting and silk screening, and feeding single or coextensive webs of the same or different colors into a needle loom have been the accepted pattern forming techniques. The preblending of fibers has permitted complete fiber penetration throughout the thickness of the fabric after needle punching but has failed to provide desired choice of fabric patterns. Surface printing of fabric after needle punching has permitted the obtaining of desired fabric patterns but has failed to provide fiber penetration of the fabric thickness. Thus, in the latter instance, with insufficient penetration of color into the fabric, wear of the fabric eventually destroyed the pattern and exposed undesirably colored, underlying fibers. The feeding of single or coextensive webs of the same or different colors into a needle loom has permitted pattern formulation of limited scope since trial and error runs have been quite expensive on actual product and the number of input variables has been limited by the use of convention boards and the difficulties in redesigning boards without simplified procedures.

The application of computer technology to the needle punching field of fabric pattern formulation is unknown and, as disclosed hereinafter, solves the inherent problems of the prior art as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed toward the use of a digital computer with input data of board needle density, needle positions 'in X and Y coordinates, strokes of the needle punching machine per minute (or, as otherwise stated in industry, revolutions per minute), and feed rate of the fabric into the needle loom. To obtain a desired fabric pattern the computer is programmed to print out a plot of holes punched under a set of input data, and the plot is read as a simulation of the pattern which would be formed if the fabric were run through the needle loom. The input data in whole or in part may be varied on a trial and error basis until a plot simulating the desired pattern is viewed. Fabric with the desired pattern formation may be obtained from the infeed of a plurality of webs coextensive with each other as desired and of varied color under a conventional needle punching process but utilizing the input data giving rise to a simulation of the desired pattern.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to open the field of fabric pattern forming to a large choice of patterns.

This and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when reading the following description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general purpose digital computer with its inputs and outputs in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the method proposed to be carried out on the computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The use of a general purpose digital computer" (as shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,400,371, granted Sept. 3, 1968 to Amdahl et aLforData Processing system, which patent is incorporated herein by reference) programmed as hereinafter described gives rise to apparatus hereinafter referred to as a special purpose digital computer". Also, as used herein the phrase "needle punching machine" is interchangeable with the phrase needle loom" with conventional needle punching as the primary function.

Conventional needle boards which are fastened to the ec centric arm of a needle punching machine have needle densities in the order of magnitude of 64, 77, l09 and 122 needles per inch. The measure of such density is the number of needles along the width of the board for each inch of length of the board, the width being that dimension of the board along the Y axis and the direction of fabric movement. Conventional boards of any of these needle densities have readily determinable X and Y coordinates for each needle position appearing on the board. Thus, with known needle density, needle positions, the number of strokes per minute (or rpm) of the eccentric arm of the needle loom and the feed rate in feet per minute of the fabric as it is to be fed through the needle loom, not only may the punched hole density of the resultant fabric be determined but also the advancing increment in the fabric moving direction for each subsequent needle punch may be determined. Thus, changes in any of the needle density, needle positions, strokes per minute and/or feed rate gives rise to a different fabric pattern formulation because of the resultant variance in either or both of the X and Y coordinate advancing increments. Although the X and/or Y coordinate increments are intended to remain constant for any plot printout, the scope of this invention includes a possible determinate variance within a single plot printout. Thus, if the needles were positioned in slots in the needle board, possibly of a circular configuration, the needles could be programmed for movements within the slot in reaction to stroke numbers to give rise to an X and/or Y coordinate increment variance within a single plot printout. Also, needle presence may be governed by programmed control to change needle density, and of course, feed rate and strokes per minute may also be modified within a single plot printout to give rise to an X and/or Y coordinate increment variance. The disclosure hereinafter, however, is directed toward fabric pattern formulation with conventional needle boards (constant needle density and positions) and constant feed rate and strokes per minute for a single plot printout in order to facilitate an understanding of the convepts involved.

With out special purpose digital computer, we initially feed in and print out the input data, as shown in FIG. 1, and more fully explained hereinafter, of needle density (needles/inch), needle X,Y coordinate positions, intended strokes per minute and intended fabric feed rate (feet/minute). The computer then as seen in FIG. 2 calculates (1) the distance of fabric moved per stroke according to intended fabric feed rate/intended strokes per minute; 2) the resultant overall needle hole density in holes per square inch according to needle density b ve 9 2 illl width of needle board in inches (1) above X l2 The latter calculation is required in order for the computer to begin recording the requisite data for a punched hole plot because the initial few strokes do not punch out the intended hole density. The computer then calculates and prints out the X and Y coordinates of the punched hole positions of each stroke based on the original X and Y coordinate data and the advancing increments thereto as determined by the fabric distance moved per stroke and examines whether there are coincident punched hole positions or not. In a nonnal needle punching operation, the feed orientation is such that only the Y coordinate will have an increment. Coincidence of holes is undesirable because of the resultant improper fiber concentrations and, therefore, is best eliminated where a clear pattern is desired. The examination of coincident positions is accomplished by determining whether any Y coordinates of hole positions are the same and if so whether the X coordinates of those positions are the same; of course, if both X and Y coordinates of punched hole positions are the same, then the holes are coincident. A printout of the number of coincident holes and their X and Y coordinates follows.

In order to obtain an enlarged approximate (because of the typewriter terminal printout spacing) plot of the punched hole positions for viewing of the simulated pattern, the computer (because the printout by the computer is keyed to the Y coordinate positioning of the punched hole positions) must rearrange the punched hole positions in the order of magnitude of the Y coordinates. For those holes having the same Y coordinates, rearrangement is according to the order of magnitude of the X coordinates. With the punched hole positions arranged in magnitude of Y coordinates, the computer may print out the rearrangement of punched hole positions and plot the punched hole positions on the enlarged scale (approximately times actual scale). Thus, one may view the plot printout of punched hole positions to determine improper pattern formulation such as bunched hole positions et cetera in addition to the printout by the computer of the coincident punched hole positions which cannot be seen in the plot printout. Also, since the resultant impact force in operation of a needle loom is directly proportional to the needle density, it is preferable to have a plot printout to assist in determining unnecessary needles for a desired pattern to thereby reduce the needle density. Of course, needles may be removed merely to improve an undesirable printout.

Local needle density may be obtained by having the computer count the number of punched holes per designated area.

As is readily apparent, a change in any of the input data will change the pattern of hole positions on the plot printout. For example, an increase in the feed rate keeping each of the other input data constant gives rise to a lesser hole density whereas an increase in strokes per minute keeping the other input data constant increases the hole density.

If the plot printout of punched hole positions proves undesirable, the previously mentioned steps may be repeated with a change in at least one of the input data, as, for example, a change in the feed rate and/or strokes per minute to obtain the desired pattern formulation. Once the desired pattern formulation is obtained through trial and error, the input data resulting in such desired formulation is utilized on a needle loom.

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the following computer program is offered:

Language of the Program: BASIC 5 cswcs No. of coincided positions punched hole position in Y axis punched hole position in X axis local hole densities overall needle hole density in. holes/in. holes/in.

PRINT SIMULATION OF NEEDLE PUNCHING MACHINE FOR A GIVEN NEEDLE BOARD llO DIM X(200), Y(200),P(65,95),Z(65) READN,X1,D PRINT PRINT NEEDLE DENSITY=DNEEDLES/IN."

X(IN.)

FEED

LENGTH IN Y DIRECTION =W DISTANCE BETWEEN HOLES IN X 310 PRINT DISTANCE MOVED, IN./STROI(E ="Al 320 PRINT LEAST NUMBER OF STROKES FOR MATERIAL PASSING THROUGH 330 PRINT WIN. LONG OF PUNCH BOARD ="Rl 580 Y(J)=T1 s90 X(J)=T2 600 GOTO 650 610 IF X(L)+.OO03 =X(J) THEN 650 620 T3=X(L) 5 630 X(L)=X(J) 640 X(J)=T3 650 NEXT J 660 NEXT L 670 L=I 680 L=L+1-R5 690 R5=0 700 [F ABS(Y(L)Y(L1)) .0OO3 THEN 930 710 IF X(L) X(Ll THEN 930 720 IF R0=I THEN 760 I5 730 PRINT COINCIDED POSlTIONSz 740 PRINT (PRINT OUT THE PORTION OF Y=LIIN.

TOW"IN.) 750 PRINT Y(IN), X(IN1) 760 PRINT USING 770 Y(L),X(L) lLiii ##i 780 L=L+I 7901F ABS (Y(L)Y(L-l .003 THEN 850 800 IF X(L) X(L1 THEN 850 810 R5=R5+1 820 PRINT USING s Y(L),X(L)

840 GOTO 780 350 L= Ll 860 FOR J=L-R5 TO G-l-R5 30 870 X J =X(I+I+R5 880 Y(J)=Y(J+I+R5) s90 R0=1 900 NEXT J 910 R2=R2+I 920 G=G-l-R5 9301F L G THEN 680 940 PRINT PUNCHED HOLE PATTERN REPEATs AT EACH A1IN. IN Y DIRECTION 950 PRINT AND X1IN. IN X DIRECTION 960 PRINT NO. OF COINCIDED POsITIONs IN A1 IN. LONGX1IN. WIDE=R2/2. 970 PRINT 980 PRINT PUNCHED POSITIONSz" 990 PRINT (PRINT OUT THE PORTION OF Y=W+ A1*2in.TOWIN.) I000 PRINT Y(IN), X(IN.) 1010FORL=1 TOG I020 1F Y(L) W+2*Al THEN 1050 1030 PRINT USING 1040, Y(L),X(L) 0;

1050 IF X(L) =X5 THEN 1080 I060 R3=R3+11 1070 GOTO 1090 1080 R3=R3+I1 1090 NEXT L 1095 PRINT 1096 s2=0 I I00 PRINTDO YOU wANT 1 OR 2 CYCLES"; I 1 l0 INPUT $2 1150 EORQ=I T05 I PRINT I NEXT 0 65 I PRINT USING 1510 I PRINT USING 1490 1200 DIM F( 100) 1210 F9=1 I220 F6=.01666 70 1230 F8=0 1240 K=0 I250 F7=Y( 1) I260 FOR Q=l TO 200 Y(LQ 7 T E 3 V 75 I 1300 PRINT F7,

1310 FOR I=1 TO F9 1320 IF F(I)=0 THEN 1360 1330 PRINT 1350 GOTO 1370 1360 PRINT 1370 NEXT] 1380 PRINT 1420 IF Y(Q) F7 THEN 1300 1430 F8=X(Q)*100+1.5

1450 IF F9 F8 THEN 1470 1460 F9=F8 1470 NEXT Q 1480 P INT USING 1490 1490: I I I I I I 1690 IF Y(L)+.003 =W3 THEN 1740 17001F Y(L)+.003 =W2 THEN 1790 17101F Y(L)+.003 =W1 THEN 1840 1720 IF Y(L)+.0O3 =W THEN 1890 1750 GOTO 1930 1800 GOTO 1930 1870 GOTO 1930 1900 GOTO 1930 1930 NEXT L 2020 PRINT 2030 IF R4 5O THEN 2090 X(INX.01)

HOLES/SQIN.

2050 PRINT DENS1TY:W2TO"W3IN.

HOLES/SQIN.

206 PRINT DENSITY:WlTOW2IN.

HOLES/SQIN.

2070 PRINT DENSITY:W"I'OW1"1N.

HOLES/SQYIN. 2080 GOTO 2 I 20 2090 PRINT "DENSITY:W2TOW4IN.

2100 PRINT DENSITWWTOWFIN.

C8)/2HOLES/SQ.IN. 2120 E=DIA1 2130 PRINT NEEDLE HOLE DENSITY :EHOLES/SQ.

lN'1, 2140 PRINT END 2150 PRINT 9999 END The above program presupposes constant input data during any one operation of a needle loom: The possibility does exist, as state previously, that in order to obtain a desired pattern formulation the needle loom itself may be automatically controlled for variable feed input data such as feed rate or strokes per minute during a single operation.

One desired input data is obtained, the fabric pattern may be formed in numerous ways. One of the principle ways of obtaining a pattern under desired input data is to utilize a pair of webs (or more) each of a different color and coextensive with each other as desired. According to the principles of needle punching, the areaof needle penetration gives rise to a blending of the fibers of the webs from the top of one web to the bottom of the other. Thus, if a plurality of webs of different color are utilized, penetration of a needle will give rise to the fibers of one web of one color penetrating through and blending with the fibers of the different colored web. The melds or blends of differently colored fibers in the areas of needle penetration will contrast with the surrounding non-blended areas to thus give rise to the desired pattern.

As previously stated, surface treating of the fibers of a fabric for pattern forming purposes is unacceptable because of the wear result on The pattern. Another principle way of utilizing computer technology in fabric pattern forming is to first surface treat the fabric and then needle punch under desired input data to blend the surface treated and non-surface treated fibers in the needle penetration area through the thickness of the web. In essence, by surface treating a single web, the web thickness provides two differently colored layers similar to two coextensive webs of different color. Also, embossed areas with patterns may be accomplished on fabrics such as carpeting (for lettering or numbering et cetera) by merely placing the desired embossment configuration as a second web coextensive with the primary web at the desired place of embossment.

Thus, a general purpose digital computer has been disclosed as a special purpose digital computer under a defined program to accomplish fabric pattern formulation, the input data of formulation being transferable to a'needle loom for actual pattern forming.

Since the preferred embodiment may be modified in numerous ways within the scope of the present invention, as, e.g., by varying needle lengths or removing needles in accordance with a plot printout of the computer to obtain varying depths of penetration of blends of fibers of the fabric being fed into the needle loom or by formulating patterns for concurrent use under double needling principles from above and below the webs et cetera, the preferred embodiment should be viewed as illustrative and not in a llfllilllllg 89 What we claim is:

1. A general purpose digital computer, which is capable of storing input data including needle density, needle coordinate positions, intended needle loom strokes per minute and intended needle loom fabric feed rate, having stored in its memory a set of program instructions for formulating fabric patterns to be formed on a needle loom, the program comprising instructions for calculating the distance of fabric moved per stroke and the coordinates of the punched hole positions of intended, successive strokes of the needle loom, in instructions for storing the coordinates of said punched hole positions, instructions for rearranging the said stored coordinates in the order of magnitude of at least one of said coordinates thereof, and instructions for initiating commands to print out a plot of the punched hole positions according to the said stored coordinates.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for comparing said stored coordinates to determine coincident punched hole positions.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein the program further comprises instructions for printing out the coordinates of said coincident punched hole positions.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for rearranging identical ones of said at least one coordinate according to the order of magnitude of another of said coordinates.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for calculating the number of strokes of the needle loom required before obtaining the intended overall needle hole density and instructions for controlling said storing of the punched hole position coordinates to preclude said storing until said number of strokes has occurred.

6. A method of formulation of fabric pattern designs to be formed by a needle loom employing a general purpose digital computer, comprising the steps of storing in said computer input data including needle density, needle coordinate positions, intended strokes per minute of the needle loom and intended fabric feed rate of the needle loom operating said computer under instructions for, calculating the distance of fabric moved per stroke, instructions for calculating and storing the coordinates of the punched hole positions of intended successive strokes of the needle loom, instructions for rearranging the coordinates of said punched hole positions in accordance with the order of magnitude of at least one of said coordinates thereof, and instructions for printing out a plot of said coordinates.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for rearranging identical ones of said at least one coordinate in accordance with the order of magnitude of another of said coordinates.

8. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for comparing the stored coordinates of said punched hole positions.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for printing out the coordinates of those punched hole positions which are coincident.

10. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of operating the computer under instructions for calculating the number of strokes of the needle loom required before obtaining the intended overall needle hole density and instructions for controlling the storing of said punched hole position coordinates to preclude said storing of punched hole position coordinates until said number of needle loom strokes has occurred.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,656,177 Dated April ll, 1972 Seng Fang Chung, William L. Kuechler, Inventor(s) George J. Steinbronn It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 33: "reaction" should be ...relation...

Column 2, line 46: "out" should be ...our...

Column 4, line 46: "342 IF Z.5-Xl THEN 346" should be...

342 IF 2(1) l-Xl THEN 346.

Column 6, lines through 23 should read as follows:

1-loc| fill Tunas Tinn- Tit). rule TIIIITIII 0+1!!! 'r-lnu/r 1500 PRINT USING 1510 1510: I O 5 1 l0 l5 2O 3O Column 6, line 62: "206 should be Z060 Column 6, line 62: "C738" should be (:7

Column line 4: "state" should be .stated.

Column 7 line 8: "One" should be .Onoe.

Column line 2: "in should be deleted.

-l- (continued.

FORM PO-O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-PE us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 osss-3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,656,177 Dated April 11, 1972 Seng Fang Chung, William L. Kuechler, Inventor) George J. Steinbronn It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

(continued.

Column 8, line 31: a comma should be inserted after "loom".

Column 8, line 32: the comma after "for" should be deleted.

Column 8, line 34: a comma should be inserted after "intended" Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM P0-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 us GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 o-ass-aal 

1. A general purpose digital computer, which is capable of storing input data including needle density, needle coordinate positions, intended needle loom strokes per minute and intended needle loom fabric feed rate, having stored in its memory a set of program instructions for formulating fabric patterns to be formed on a needle loom, the program comprising instructions for calculating the distance of fabric moved per stroke and the coordinates of the punched hole positions of intended, successive strokes of the needle loom, in instructions for storing the coordinates of said punched hole positions, instructions for rearranging the said stored coordinates in the order of magnitude of at least one of said coordinates thereof, and instructions for initiating commands to print out a plot of the punched hole positions according to the said stored coordinates.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for comparing said stored coordinates to determine coincident punched hole positions.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein the program further comprises instructions for printing out the coordinates of said coincident punched hole positions.
 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for rearranging identical ones of said at least one coordinate according to the order of magnitude of another of said coordinates.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the program further comprises instructions for calculating the number of strokes of the needle loom required before obtaining the intended overall needle hole density and instructions for controlling said storing of the punched hole position coordinates to preclude said storing until said number of strokes has occurred.
 6. A method of formulation of fabric pattern designs to be formed by a needle loom employing a general purpose digital computer, comprising the steps of storing in said computer input data including needle density, needle coordinate positions, intended strokes per minute of the needle loom and intended fabric feed rate of the needle loom operating said computer under instructions for, calculating the distance of fabric moved per stroke, instructions for calculating and storing the coordinates of the punched hole positions of intended successive strokes of the needle loom, instructions for rearranging the coordinates of said punched hole positions in accordance with the order of magnitude of at least one of said coordinates thereof, and instructions for printing out a plot of said coordinates.
 7. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for rearranging identical ones of said at least one coordinate in accordance with the order of magnitude of another of said coordinates.
 8. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for comparing the stored coordinates of said punched hole positions.
 9. The method set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer under instructions for printing out the coordinates of those punched hole positions which are coincident.
 10. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of operating the computer under instructions for calculating the number of strokes of the needle loom required before obtaining the intended overall needle hole density and instructions for controlling the storing of said punched hole position coordinates to preclude said storing of punched hole position coordinates until said number of needle loom strokes has occurred. 